मञ्जूषां रत्नसंपूर्णां कृत्वा बालसमाश्रिताम्। उत्ससर्ज कुमारं तं जले कुन्ती महाबलम्
She placed the powerful boy in a chest filled with jewels, and Kunti, having done so, set him afloat in the water.
तमुत्सृष्टं जले गर्भं राधाभर्ता महायशाः। पुत्रत्वे कल्पयामास सभार्यः सूतनन्दनः
That child, released into the water, was found by Radha's husband, famed and noble; together with his wife, the charioteer adopted him as their son.
नामधेयं च चक्राते तस्य बालस्य तावुभौ। वसुना सह जातोऽयं वसुषेणो भवत्विति
Both of them gave the boy a name, saying, 'He is born with wealth; let him be called Vasusena.'
स वर्धमानो बलवान्सर्वास्त्रेषूद्यतोऽभवत्। आपृष्ठतापादादित्यमुपातिष्ठत वीर्यवान्
As he grew, he became strong and skilled in all weapons; when asked, he approached the Sun, full of vigor.
तस्मिन्काले तु जपतस्तस्य वीरस्य धीमतः। नादेयं ब्राह्मणेष्वासीत्किंचिद्वसु महीतले
At that time, while that heroic and wise man was reciting prayers, there was not a single gift to be found for Brahmins anywhere on earth.
ततः काले तु कस्मिंश्चित्स्वप्नान्ते कर्णमब्रवीत्। आदित्यो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा शृणु वीर वचो मम
Then, at the end of some night, in a dream, the Sun, taking the form of a Brahmin, spoke to Karna: 'Hear my words, O hero.'
प्रभातायां रजन्यां त्वामागमिष्यति वासवः। न तस्य भिक्षा दातव्या विप्ररूपी भविष्यति
When the night has passed and morning arrives, Indra will come to you; do not give him alms, for he will appear in the guise of a Brahmin.
निश्चयोऽस्यापहर्तुं ते कवचं कुण्डले तथा। अतस्त्वां बोधयाम्येष स्मर्तासि वचनं मम
His intention is to take your armor and earrings; therefore I am warning you, remember my words.
शक्रो मां विप्ररूपेण यदि वै याचते द्विज। कथं तस्मै न दास्यामि यथा चास्म्यवबोधितः
If Shakra, disguised as a Brahmin, asks me for something, how can I refuse him, as I have been instructed?
विप्राः पूज्यास्तु देवानां सततं प्रियमिच्छताम्। तं देवदेवं जानन्वै न शक्तोऽस्म्यवमन्त्रणे
Brahmins are always to be honored by those who seek the favor of the gods; knowing him to be the lord of the gods, I am unable to disregard him.
यद्येवं शृणु मे वीर वरं ते सोऽपि दास्यति। शक्तिं त्वमपि याचेथाः सर्वशत्रुविबाधिनीम्
If that is so, listen to me, hero: he will grant you a boon; you should ask him for a spear that destroys all enemies.
एवमुक्त्वा द्विजः स्वप्ने तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। कर्णः प्रबुद्धस्तं स्वप्नं चिन्तयानोऽभवत्तदा
Having spoken thus, the Brahmin vanished in the dream; Karna, awakened, began to ponder that dream.
तमिन्द्रो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा पुत्रार्थं भूतभावनः। कुण्डले प्रार्थयामास कवचं च महाद्युतिः
Indra, assuming the form of a Brahmin for the sake of his son, the creator of beings, requested the earrings and armor from the radiant Karna.
उत्कृत्याविमनाः स्वाङ्गात्कवचं रुधिरस्रवम्। कर्णौ पार्श्वे च द्वे छित्त्वा प्रायच्छत्स कृताञ्जलिः
Without hesitation, Karna cut the armor from his own body, which bled, and sliced off both earrings from his sides, offering them with folded hands.
प्रतिगृह्य तु देवेशस्तुष्टस्तेनास्य कर्मणा। अहो साहसमित्याह मनसा वासवो हसन्
Having received them, the lord of the gods was pleased by his deed; smiling, Vasava thought, 'Ah, what courage!'
देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्। न तं पश्यामि यो ह्येतत्कर्म कर्ता भविष्यति
Among gods, demons, yakshas, gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas, I do not see anyone who could perform such an act.
प्रीतोऽस्मि कर्मणा तेन वरं ब्रूहि यदिच्छसि
I am pleased by this deed; speak, tell me what boon you desire.
शक्तिं तस्मै ददौ शक्रो विस्मयाद्वाक्यमब्रवीत्। देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्
Shakra gave him a spear and, amazed, spoke: 'Among gods, demons, yakshas, gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas—'
यस्मै क्षेप्स्यसि रुष्टः सन्सोऽनया न भविष्यति। हत्वैकं समरे शत्रुं ततो मामागमिष्यति। इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे शक्रो वरं दत्त्वा तु तस्य वै
Whomever you strike in anger with this, he will not survive; after slaying one enemy in battle, it will return to me. Having said this, Shakra vanished, granting him the boon.
प्राङ्नाम तस्य कथितं वसुषेण इति क्षितौ। कर्णो वैकर्तनश्चैव कर्मणा तेन सोऽभवत्
Previously, he was called Vasusena on earth; by this act, he became known as Karna, the son of Vikartana.
सत्वरूपगुणोपेता धर्मारामा महाव्रता। दुहिता कुन्तिभोजस्य पृथा पृथुललोचना
Endowed with beauty, virtue, and swift qualities, devoted to righteousness and great vows, was Pritha, the broad-eyed daughter of Kuntibhoja.
तां तु तेजस्विनीं कन्यां रूपयौवनशालिनीम्। व्यावृण्वन्पार्थिवाः केचिदतीव स्त्रीगुणैर्युताम्
That radiant maiden, possessing beauty and youth, was sought after by some kings, being exceedingly adorned with feminine virtues.
ततः सा कुन्तिभोजेन राज्ञाहूय नराधिपान्। पित्रा स्वयंवरे दत्ता दुहिता राजसत्तम
Then, Kuntibhoja, having invited the kings, gave his daughter in the svayaṃvara to the best of kings, by the will of her father.
ततः सा रङ्गमध्यस्थं तेषां राज्ञां मनस्विनी। ददर्श राजशार्दूलं पाण्डुं भरतसत्तमम्
There, standing in the midst of the assembly of kings, that noble lady beheld Pāṇḍu, the foremost among the Bharatas, a tiger among kings.
सिंहदर्पं महोरस्कं वृषभाक्षं महाबलम्। आदित्यमिव सर्वेषां राज्ञां प्रच्छाद्य वै प्रभाः
With the pride of a lion, broad-chested, bull-eyed, of great strength, he shone among all the kings like the sun, veiling their radiance.
तिष्ठन्तं राजसमितौ पुरन्दरमिवापरम्। तं दृष्ट्वा साऽनवद्याङ्गी कुन्तिभोजसुता शुभा
Standing in the royal assembly like another Indra, upon seeing him, that flawless-limbed, auspicious daughter of Kuntibhoja—
पाण्डुं नरवरं रङ्गे हृदयेनाकुलाऽभवत्। ततः कामपरीताङ्गी सकृत्प्रचलमानसा
—her heart was agitated for Pāṇḍu, the best of men, as he stood in the arena; then, her body overcome by desire, her mind wavering for a moment—
व्रीडमान स्रजं कुन्ती राज्ञः स्कन्धे समासजत्। तं निशम्य वृतं पाण्डुं कुन्त्या सर्वे नराधिपाः
Kuntī, bashful, placed the garland upon the king’s shoulder; and when they heard that Pāṇḍu had been chosen by Kuntī, all the kings—
यथागतं समाजग्मुर्गजैरश्वै रथैस्तथा। ततस्तस्याः पिता राजन्विवाहमकरोत्प्रभुः
—departed as they had come, on elephants, horses, and chariots; then her father, O King, performed the wedding ceremony.
स तया कुन्तिभोजस्य दुहित्रा कुरुनन्दनः। युयुजेऽमितसौभाग्यः पौलोम्या मघवानिव
Thus, the exceedingly fortunate Pāṇḍu, son of the Kurus, was united with Kuntibhoja’s daughter, just as Maghavan was with Paulomī.